1.(Early Life) He was born in Newton, Massachusetts, on the 19th of April, 1721 and He died on the 23rd of July in 1793.
3. (Family and educational background) Roger was then only nineteen years of age, and the whole care and support of a large family devolved on him. He had been apprenticed to a shoemaker, but he now took charge of the small farm his father left. In 1744, they sold the farm, and moved to New Milford, in Connecticut, where an elder brother, who was married, resided. Roger performed the journey on foot, carrying his shoemaker's tools with him, and for some time he worked industriously at his trade there.
4.(Person's occupation and accomplishments) Roger Sherman was an American lawyer and politician. He served as the first mayor of New Haven, Connecticut and served on the Committee of Five which was the group delegated by the Second Continental Congress to draft the Declaration of Independence, and was also a representative and senator in the new republic. His greatest accomplishment that he achieved was being the only person to sign four great U.S. state papers, The articles of association, The articles of Confederation, The Declaration of Independence, and The Constitution.
5.(Event in the war that made this person a patriot) It was at this time that the passage of the Stamp Act was bringing the politicians of America to a decided stand in relation to the repeated aggressions of Great Britain. Roger Sherman fearlessly took part with the patriots, and was a leader among them in Connecticut, until the war broke out. Although his duties in Congress, during the war, were almost incessant, yet he was at the same time a member of the Committee of Safety of Connecticut. In 1783, he was appointed, with Judge Law, of New London, to revise the statutes of the State, in which service he showed great ability. So he kept his responsiblity of being a senate, and maintaining the safety of Connecticut.
6. (Commentary excerpts about the Patriot) It is said that while at work on his bench, he had a book so placed that he could read when It was not necessary for his eyes to be upon his work. He thus acquired a good knowledge of mathematics, and he made astronomical calculations for an almanac that was published in New York when be was only twenty-seven years old.
Mr. Shaman had no instructor or guide in the study of the law, neither had he any books but such as he borrowed, yet he became me of the most profound jurists of his day.
7.(Selections from researched sources that describe the patriot) He was determined to be the best in my opinion. He was naturally strong, but had a very active mind. He studied law during his free time, he was very proficient at it. He didn't fight physically as a patriot against the British, but he fought from a political standpoint.
8. (Noteworthy descendants, current family members) He was a first cousin twice removed of Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin. Sherman's mother Mehitable Wellington and Whitney's great-grandmother Elizabeth Wellington were siblings. It has been suggested that both of them were descended from England, He was grandfather of Roger Sherman Baldwin, William Maxwell Evarts, George Frisbe Hoar, and Ebenzer Rockwood Hoar.
9.(Where is he buried?) Roger Sherman died on July 23, 1793, and is buried in New Haven.
2.(Pictures of Roger Sherman)
Roger Sherman
In John Trumbull's famous painting, Sherman is literally front and center -- of those standing up near the desk, he is the second person from the left. The painting depicts the Committee of Five presenting its work to the Congress.
3. (Family and educational background) Roger was then only nineteen years of age, and the whole care and support of a large family devolved on him. He had been apprenticed to a shoemaker, but he now took charge of the small farm his father left. In 1744, they sold the farm, and moved to New Milford, in Connecticut, where an elder brother, who was married, resided. Roger performed the journey on foot, carrying his shoemaker's tools with him, and for some time he worked industriously at his trade there.
4.(Person's occupation and accomplishments) Roger Sherman was an American lawyer and politician. He served as the first mayor of New Haven, Connecticut and served on the Committee of Five which was the group delegated by the Second Continental Congress to draft the Declaration of Independence, and was also a representative and senator in the new republic. His greatest accomplishment that he achieved was being the only person to sign four great U.S. state papers, The articles of association, The articles of Confederation, The Declaration of Independence, and The Constitution.
5.(Event in the war that made this person a patriot) It was at this time that the passage of the Stamp Act was bringing the politicians of America to a decided stand in relation to the repeated aggressions of Great Britain. Roger Sherman fearlessly took part with the patriots, and was a leader among them in Connecticut, until the war broke out. Although his duties in Congress, during the war, were almost incessant, yet he was at the same time a member of the Committee of Safety of Connecticut. In 1783, he was appointed, with Judge Law, of New London, to revise the statutes of the State, in which service he showed great ability. So he kept his responsiblity of being a senate, and maintaining the safety of Connecticut.
6. (Commentary excerpts about the Patriot) It is said that while at work on his bench, he had a book so placed that he could read when It was not necessary for his eyes to be upon his work. He thus acquired a good knowledge of mathematics, and he made astronomical calculations for an almanac that was published in New York when be was only twenty-seven years old.
Mr. Shaman had no instructor or guide in the study of the law, neither had he any books but such as he borrowed, yet he became me of the most profound jurists of his day.
7.(Selections from researched sources that describe the patriot) He was determined to be the best in my opinion. He was naturally strong, but had a very active mind. He studied law during his free time, he was very proficient at it. He didn't fight physically as a patriot against the British, but he fought from a political standpoint.
8. (Noteworthy descendants, current family members) He was a first cousin twice removed of Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin. Sherman's mother Mehitable Wellington and Whitney's great-grandmother Elizabeth Wellington were siblings. It has been suggested that both of them were descended from England, He was grandfather of Roger Sherman Baldwin, William Maxwell Evarts, George Frisbe Hoar, and Ebenzer Rockwood Hoar.
9.(Where is he buried?) Roger Sherman died on July 23, 1793, and is buried in New Haven.
2.(Pictures of Roger Sherman)